with $100k coming in, swapping out of Roanoke

change
Albuquerque, NM cityscape

instead of roanoke

Albuquerque

nm · metro 924k

photo: Lad Fury / pexels

a dispatch from

albuquerque

NM

35.08°N

106.65°W

Albuquerque is green chile on everything, the Sandia Mountains turning pink at sunset (the name literally means watermelon), and the Balloon Fiesta in October when 500+ hot air balloons fill the sky. The old town adobes feel like the 1700s, the food fuses Native, Mexican, and Spanish in ways you won't get anywhere else. Breaking Bad fans will recognize half the city, and locals are good-natured about it.

metro924k

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01 · the verdict

the verdict

$119

more expensive each month than Roanoke

Barely costlier than Roanoke. If Albuquerque pulls you in, it's the life it offers, not the price tag.
landable, recorded on the albuquerque entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,489/mo

8% more expensive than Roanoke(vs $1,382/mo)

02state income tax

5.9%

$12/mo more in state tax than Roanoke

vs 5.75% in Roanoke

03after rent

$6,353/mo

$119 less than Roanoke

gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.

04a house here

$351k

19% more expensive than Roanoke

vs $296k in Roanoke

05metro size

924k

vs 314k in Roanoke

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

205

pleasant days a year, in albuquerque.

Roanoke only logs 179 pleasant days. Hot stretches show up, though: 34 days above 95° here, 2 in Roanoke.

A month here packs 3.5× the events of Roanoke.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

81/100

17% higher than Roanoke

vs 69/100 in Roanoke

Closest outdoor draw: Sandia Mountain Wilderness, 13.4 mi.

·walk score®

94/100

0% lower than Roanoke

vs 94/100 in Roanoke

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

23

156% more than Roanoke

vs 9 nonstops in Roanoke

04 · see also

if albuquerque appeals, also worth a look:

see also

spartanburg

$5/mo cheaper

turn the page

see also

greenville

more things to do

turn the page

see also

spokane

$460/mo cheaper

turn the page

compare albuquerque with:

SpartanburgGreenvilleSpokane